Carpenter Bee Wacking

[photobiker]

There you go. Mike has the answer. I built a few similar. I used a 4x4 about 6" long and drilled a hole in each end on a 45 degree angle and they meet in the middle, oh heck here is a pic.

Basically drill 2 holes, say 3/8", in the ends on a 45 degree angle more or less (depends on the length of your 4x4) and they should meet in the middle. Drill a hole upward from the bottom to meet the 2-45 degree angle holes. Next enlarge the bottom hole large enough to hold the top to a water bottle. May want to do this first depending of the tools you are using. Glue the top in place, after you drill out the inside of the top.

Done. I trapped 20+ carpenter bees this year in the one trap. No holes in my deck or trim.

The story is they go up the angle and down into the bottle and can't find their way out and they die.

 

[Nframe]

I know Chris too, great guy. He lives so far out I doubt anyone sees him shooting bees, or anything.

Another friend uses an older pump air rifle and millet seeds as shot. Turns them inside out and little noise.

Hey what do ya know, I'm remembered and known for yet something else that is of no worth.

 

[SC_Mike]

Hey what do ya know, I'm remembered and known for yet something else that is of no worth.

That qualifies you to be "Nearly Famous" and gets you a free cup of coffee.

 

[ralph7]

Update

My carpenter bee trap has caught 0 bees. May try another that is not treated lumber.
Went to Academy and got this youth racquet. Thought it would be better swinging in a tight confine.
Well, 3 in an hour is my personal best so far.
I find myself sitting out there looking around like I'm out dove hunting.

 

[don5]

My carpenter bee trap has caught 0 bees. May try another that is not treated lumber.
Went to Academy and got this youth racquet. Thought it would be better swinging in a tight confine.
Well, 3 in an hour is my personal best so far.
I find myself sitting out there looking around like I'm out dove hunting.

Exactly right! You should pick up an electronic one too. Nothing beats a little electricity! More power and all that!!

 

[kantuck]

That was Chris aka N-Frame in Elgin ,SC
I have a neighbor that makes traps... If I can put one together I'll post some pix..
JIM...........

I built my house in 1980 and they were not a problem until past 8-10 years. They don't eat wood they bore in for nests. Pressure treated or cedar, doesn't matter! I made a bunch of traps to lower my pesticide use and get more of them as very damaging. Lots of good trap patterns out there -google- "Carpenter bee trap"/images and you'll see them. Also sold on ebay where I looked for my pattern too. They are attracted to cedar wood in a natural way so i made mine from cedar. I use pint canning jars, not water bottles like some. Helps to have a drill press for the angled hole required.
They DO!!! work!!!. I have seen the jars full of them. "Suspend" will kill them but never all of them.

 

[MK]

I know Chris too, great guy. He lives so far out I doubt anyone sees him shooting bees, or anything.

Another friend uses an older pump air rifle and millet seeds as shot. Turns them inside out and little noise.

I shoot to shoot many of them in half with a bb gun.. We had a
back patio frame made of redwood, and the carpenter bees were
always boring holes in it. You could hear the faint sound of wood
eating in the roof at night when sitting on the patio.
In the day they are all flitting about, and made good target practice.
I also used to shoot locusts in half when they were high up in trees.
I'd spot the slight bump on the branch, pull the trigger, and they
would be a mass of insect particles formerly known as a locust.